Sweet 15 (1990 TV Movie) User Reviews

Kind of coming back to me now.

[crisrabb · 4/10 · 22 January 2005]

I vaguely remember a leg shaving mishap, milk poured down a drain as an excuse to go to the store, and recycled dresses at a party. Yes, I think I saw this one.

While it wasn't particularly moving or filled with outstanding performances, it did hold my attention from start to finish. Either that, or the remote control was out of reach. Regardless, it was a nice little film, all things considered. It had the typical afterschool special feel to it, which I'd grown up with. That could be why I held off on switching channels. Also, I didn't realize that was 1990. Seemed very much earlier to me, but then it was all so many years ago.

Really though, it wasn't so bad. Teen angst and a happy ending.

Sure, why not?

It's odd

[jimochi-95464 · 4/10 · 21 April 2021]

I'm watching this for Spanish. I like the plot, somewhat, maybe only because I just started watching it and I want to know the ending.

The odd thing is, Marta is 14. Ramon or whatever his name is looks around 30.

It bothers me, and almost makes me uncomfortable trying to watch it.

Pretty Good. Oh wait, no it wasn't.

[adogg90 · 4/10 · 22 December 2004]

This movie was horrible. Some of the most god-awful performances I have ever seen. You could tell that they were giving good effort, but I couldn't help but pay attention to the horrible dated clothes and the fact that the main character was dating a 30 year old "boy". Okay, so I may have been a little harsh on the performance scale, but it was so poorly done and so corny, that I, I...I'm sorry, I can no longer speak of it. It is too, too, terrible.

Better Than: 'Rubberface' starring Jim Carrey and an ugly girl.

Worse Than: 'Rocky V' Starring Sylvester Stallone and an ugly dog.

4/10

How does a movie about illegal immigrants and pedophiles make it into a classroom?

[baseballlover312 · 1/10 · 24 June 2012]

"I've been taking care of my self for years, since I was like 14"

"14? That's my age!"

Doesn't that just sum it up. The film could go two ways in reality. Marta was either gonna be abducted or raped. They said it was about a quincenera (spelling), but that had barely anything to do with it.

I couldn't help laughing with my friend as we sat through a wasted Spanish. Are you supposed to laugh at the horrible acting? I'm sure they meant well but with only one real actor in the whole movie its hard. Marta's friends looked like random teens picked off a curb in LA. Where did they even get this idea?

Plus, they try to make illegal immigrants look good. They make deporting illegals look so bad. They broke a law! They should be punished!

Overall, this propaganda film might give you a few laughs (not the funny parts), but its not worth wasting you're life to see.

P.S. How old was Ramon? Like 30? My guess is 33. In that case he should be arrested for being a pedophile. Two quotes that prove this.

"Your dad doesn't have to come pick you up, just get in my car" -Car could have been replaced with van but same thing.

"Why are you always running away from me?" -Marta doesn't want to get raped, and that pisses him off.

I want two hours of my life back.

[Chinese_Paradox · 1/10 · 15 March 2005]

This movie is the worst waste of celluloid that I've seen in a long time. The 'acting' is atrocious. I cringe with every word that this Martha woman says. Was there even an audition? Or did they just pick random people off the streets, feeding them with 'dreams' of getting into Hollywood? Perhaps if some of these people actually learned how to act, this movie would be more entertaining. No, instead the director spends hours giving us two people who have no idea how to act.

Second, the plot. What the…? That's a plot? What, men with fake IDs? Learning how to dance? Can't Martha just listen to her parents? It's embarrassing. I was too busy dozing off than paying attention.

This movie makes Raise Your Voice look like the Godfather. Take my advice; do something better with your time. I was foolish enough to watch this. I have paid the price.

Pretty good.

[Chromium_5 · 22 September 2004]

We used to watch "Sweet 15" every year in my high school Spanish class. We had great fun making fun of it, too. I have to admit this was kind of unfair, since it is well acted and directed overall, but it gets so cheesy sometimes that it feels like a bad soap opera.

The story involves a really, really annoying girl who is about to have her fifteenth birthday party, but her parents won't let her be escorted by Ramon, the guy of her dreams, so she hates the whole world. Unfortunately, her father is an illegal immigrant, and he has to cancel the birthday party and avoid being deported to Mexico. Now the girl has to learn lessons about maturity.

The parts involving the father are nicely done. But the parts with Ramon (who looks like a Hispanic version of MacGyver, I must add) are extremely painful to watch. He appears to be in his mid-thirties, and he is hitting on a girl who is not even fifteen yet. Creepy. Nevertheless, he does not seem to have any evil intentions, since all he does is take her for rides in his car so they can... talk, apparently. What kind of guy chauffeurs young girls around for no reason? Does he actually ENJOY listening to her whine about her party?

I guess I would recommend this as a good family movie, as long as parents tell their kids afterwards that dating some random guy twice your age who puts the moves on you at a carnival is NOT a good idea. But it is a good movie overall, and it does a nice job showing the kinds of problems that some Hispanic families have to go through.

6/10 stars.

This shouldn't be shown in Spanish classes.

[flamealvey · 1/10 · 1 December 2016]

From the beginning, I knew this movie would be an atrocity. The pacing of the movie is inconsistent. For example, the beginning of the movie was overly slow, and the ending happened way too quickly. Also, this hardly even had to do with Quinceanera. Most of the movie was about the family being illegal immigrants from Mexico and how they were going to become legal. Finally, I know some of the reviews on here all talk about Ramon being way older than Marta, and being borderline pedophilia, and I agree that some of the lines he said to her were crossing the line. Ultimately, this movie had all the right ingredients to create a textbook example of utter garbage. With all these reasons mentioned, especially the second one, this movie should NOT be shown to high school students anymore. Their suffering has lasted long enough.

Good god

[extremelyharpoonedwhale · 1/10 · 14 April 2017]

If there was a 0 button... I'd press it to high heavens....

Let me tell you, I saw this was made from PBS and was almost immediately disappointed. In fact, I started bursting out laughing, almost to tears. The acting was B-Rate ((Totally awful)) and the movie in it's entirety was extremely bland and cheesy. Like when they started playing that rom-com music in the background when they got all the signatures? Oh god end my suffering. I'm gonna drink a tub of bleach and forget this night ever happened.

No Oscars here

[salinasdr-30842 · 2/10 · 30 November 2019]

Not the greatest acting, and odd that an innocent 14 year old girl is interested in a ugly mullet wearing 45 year old man.

drown me

[SamuelDeLaCruz · 1/10 · 5 March 2019]

This movie brought blood from my eyes. I could feel the fires of a thousand suns baking my flesh, I begged for some ungodly being to fly down from the heavens and tear the hair from my head. How could someone create such a monstrosity, something so awful that it would haunt the hopes and dreams of children for years to come? What horrible thoughts were running through your head when you cast a 25 year old male to be in love with a 15 year old girl? The movie made me cry. In the middle of my Spanish class, I burst out in tears and screams. This movie is terrifying. I don't trust it. Neither should you.

I watched it in Spanish class.

[TOMNEL · 2/10 · 28 October 2005]

I used to watch this in Spanish class. It was really lame. it involves 14 year old Marta who won't shut-up about having a quince anyos (15th birthday) bash but her dad has a secret. Hes an immigrant. If she does go, her escort would be her ugly nerd cousin Octovio. She wants to go with her friend's cousin Ramon. Now this was stupid. Ramon looks like he must be 35 and Marta is 14. I find that a bit strange, and so does her father who bands her from seeing him. The kids and Ramon can't act, but the parents do a nice job and Jerry Stiller's pretty good as the bossman. But even with that said, its still really cheesy to the point of cringeing.

108 mins.

Really Sweet Poignant Story Very Timely

[emmeline01 · 10/10 · 31 August 2006]

For anyone who's ever had to deal with immigration this story will tug at your heart strings. A young girl is preparing for her 15th birthday. Her father she finds out is an illegal so she works to help him out. Boy, they don't make television like they used to. This was a really good story that was clean. Why won't Hollywood make decent film like these anymore?

There are a lot of good life lessons in this show. I recommend this to anyone especially parents with children who want to show them wholesome shows without all of the sex & violence in today's movies and television.

Fine and fun movie.

[toesII · 7/10 · 15 September 2007]

Another Jr. High teacher recommended that I show it to my classes. It is great for 7th graders. (recommended 5th-8th grade) Lots of humor throughout.

Yes, the casting of Panchito Gomez as the older "boy" is questionable given his age --- can't pass for 18 or 19 --- so I suspended my disbelief and got over it! He did a good job.

I've seen this movie several times and am passing the word that it is great for 10-14 year olds. It's been used in class to discuss plot diagrams, characterization, theme, etc.

Has lots of lessons about pursuing dreams, tenacity, family relations (siblings, parents, growing up and finding one's own way). Nearly all of the 7th graders loved it. Some here saw it in high school and seem to have brought that age group's snobbishness with them to their reviews. They missed the whole thrust of the movie.

Fine film. Hochberg and Weil are to be commended.

Oh, My Eyes!

[msemkopf · 5/10 · 23 April 2007]

I'm not saying this just because they forced us to watch it in Spanish class, but I my gosh! What were they thinking having that like 40 year old guy chasing around this 14 year old girl, Marta. Not to mention he couldn't dance to save his life.I mean I know it's a well know dance. But the guy had no rhythm. Then, the girl Marta(Who this movie is mostly about)is acting all spoiled and whiny when they have to cancel her 15 B-day party when they find out her dad is an illegal Mexican immigrant.Not only that, but the dad's trying to keep her from the 40 year old guy Ramon who drives her around without actually hitting on her.They're from like totally different worlds and a 40 yr. old guy not hitting on this young girl who's attracted to him? Yeah right...I think her father and Mother play great parts and everything, but almost everyone else were really corny. I mean don't you think there would be other concerns with the situation than no party when her dad might get into some big trouble?

Have you ever laughed at the serious parts of a movie?

[Bettlejuice · 2/10 · 29 August 2007]

Sweet 15 It tells the story of a girl about to turn 15 years old (which is as important as 16 is for American girls) and having to face the realities of life. Problems turn up with her father who is having problems at work and she meets a new boy from the wrong side of the tracks. I'm sorry to say that it really cant be summed up any better than that. The problems in the movie come from it just being too silly to take seriously. The movie treats itself like an epic instead of a forgotten movie seen only in high school classrooms. That is where I first saw the movie and my classmates loved every second of watching it, but for all the wrong reasons. Sweet 15 sets itself up to be knocked down and high school students just wont waist an opportunity like that.

Horrible

[blulaffytaffy · 2/10 · 6 March 2006]

Thinking of watching a film tonight about illegal immigrants from Mexico? Well, pick another film because Sweet 15 is the most terrible, unimaginative, and uninteresting film I have ever seen. It is supposed to be based upon a Mexican-American girl, Marta, who was ready to celebrate her 15th birthday—her 'quinceanera', but it was mostly about how her father was an illegal immigrant and her love interest with a boy named Ramon. To say the least, the plot was not well thought out and the theme seemed to change throughout the film.

The plot of Sweet 15 was drab and lackluster; there was hardly any development in the direction the title suggests. You would expect the movie to be about a girl growing into a woman by having a 'quinceanera', but it's not at all. In fact, the party is only mentioned and doesn't really reveal what a 'quinceanera' involves completely. The actual presentation of the plot was slow and off-course, with poor character development.

The casting of actors and actresses was probably partially to blame for the poor characterization. There was quite a bit of overacting on the part of Marta, played by Karla Montana, and her ditsy friend Jackie (Giselle Anthony). Jackie seemed to only be in the film to show the difference between a girl before her 'quinceanera' and a "woman" afterward. Although, she wasn't much more mature than the others, she just wore make-up and high heels. Her dialog was often random and unintelligent.

This film if it had made it to the Bow Office could have never won an Oscar. It was a made-for-t.v. movie that shouldn't have even been shown there. After seeing this film, I realized I wasted two perfectly good hours of my life and I was extremely grateful I didn't pay the cable bill.

okay movie, bad acting

[Dariusj_1 · 2/10 · 12 November 2007]

I also had to watch this movie in Spanish class. It was an okay movie, it kept my interest most of the time, but the acting was horrible. Im not saying names but a couples of the actors in this film could not act at all. And the guy Marta was supposedly in love with, was like 40 years old. They could have at least gotten a guy who looked 16 to play the guy. It just looked wrong to have a 15 year old girl falling in love with a guy who is obviously at least 30 years old. In class me and my classmates like to make fun of the film talking about things we thought were funny. So it apparently held our interest, so I give it props for that, but as an actor myself, I think I am giving these people some good advice. When you get a role, research that character, watch people around the community and at the mall who are like your character. It will help you to build a more believable character.

Made For Spanish Class

[linamarie · 3/10 · 13 April 2008]

This movie was pretty ridiculous. It is about this whiny 14 year old girl Marta who is pushing her parents into letting her have a Quincenera, but her parents don't have enough money. Marta basically pouts her way through life when the answer is no, until she finds out that her father is an illegal immigrant. On the way, she meets her "wild cousin", supposedly the man of her dreams.

The only good acting I saw in this movie was her parents, they seemed to know their characters. But the rest were pretty terrible. Especially Marta's friends, they were so atrocious. My friend turned to me and he was like "please tell me you don't act like that!" Oh my god, Ramon, how old was he? He looked like 38, that is so wrong! And, he just drove her around, its like, hello, she's using you.

I would not recommend this movie. Its plot is nothing new and the acting is pretty bad.

Felt weird the entire time.

[yoonleee · 1/10 · 20 April 2024]

Sure, it does show SOME aspects of being an illegal citizen in the U. S. and a girl going into her quince (15th bday). But that's only just a trivial part of the movie. On a larger perspective, it is generally based on this girl -that's not even fifteen years old- falling in love with a guy that is presumably in his mid thirties. His role throughout the whole movie is being a free, innocent Uber (he takes her anywhere she wants) and doesn't expect to (or at least portrayed in the movie) exchange his acts for anything sexual.

They usually show this movie in Spanish classrooms to show the students about a Mexican tradition, quinceñera, which is when a girl celebrates her 15th birthday and hosts a big party. However, I can't tell if the movie director intended for it to be about a girl infatuated by a grown man double her age, or about her celebration.

This is an excellent tool to teach Spanish students about culture

[romeroj-1 · 9/10 · 30 November 2005]

There are many that do not care about the way it was and the way it is for the ones who are trying to find a better way of life. What would happened if the shoe was on their foot? I know this is a very delicate point to talk about, but I bring this video to educate students and allow them to expand their knowledge. I have found out that most students do not even know about the Immigration Service or the work they do. They also need to learn how hard it is for "newcomers" to make it in this country. I f they learn about the hardship some go through, maybe they will understand help students from other countries. I know that Ramón is around 24 years when they made this film, but remember he is only an actor. We need to look at the meaning within the movie.

Hispanic Culture

[mizdybella · 7/10 · 25 September 2010]

I watched this movie also in Spanish class and liked it. As someone else posted for the girl "Marta" to be spoiled i didn't see that. Yeah she was a 14 year old girl so she acted out sometimes but what 14 year old doesn't? Plus a big chuck of the movie the girl was running around trying to help her dad get documentation to help him stay in the USA. The guy she was running around with did look older maybe 21 (NOT 40) but its a movie, look at Grease and tell me all the cast was 16 and 17 year olds yeah right lol. So overall a good movie even if a little out dated now. I think this movie would make be a good one to remake and update it a little. I know the class enjoyed watching it, or maybe they just enjoyed the break from work either way i would suggest watching it.

Masterpiece!

[redeyesjck · 10/10 · 9 February 2009]

This piece of cinematic art is the best thing in America since Furbys. This sweeping epic shows the nitty gritty realities of immigration and teenage celebrations. It not only provides beautiful eye candy but also dwells upon values that children in our society need to learn. Also, there is two elements that are seen few other places. Marta's family's stuggle is one that American familys expieriance every day. 1- mastership of the mullet. He pulls it off. 2- The threatening motion of nightstick to hand, indicating there's gonna be trouble. Overall, i'd say that this beautie should be shown in living rooms, Spanish class rooms and lecture halls all over the world. Or, the mundo.

Shockingly Good

[Chad-11 · 7/10 · 2 May 2002]

One can call this Stolen Summer...the Hispanic Verson. It's an entertaining family movie (I think...the male lead looked about 28 while the girl he was courting was 15)...beyond that note I think it's really interesting. Filled with devoloped characters, it was a joy to watch, and heartbreaking in certain parts. I saw this in Spanish class and was happy the teacher selected a film this good for a high school class. See it if you get a chance.

great cast, great story, great movie!

[mexman_60090 · 9/10 · 22 February 2006]

This movie is great. After reading some of the other reviews on this page I felt compelled to write one, a fair one of my own, since the others were obviously biased in some way or another. First off, the movie is a little cheesy, that guy is way too muscular and mature looking to be a 14 yr. olds love interest, looks like he belongs in some r rated b movie. But you have to remember that this movie was made in 1989. Yup, 1989, if you don't remember what it was like back then, then just watch the movie because its pretty accurate, right down to the bad ass wannabe, he even looks like one of the little tough guy wannabes from my 7th grade class. Whats funny is he looked like he was in his twenties too, I guess it has something to do about peaking way too young. Anyway the point is that minus a bit of cheesiness the movie is very accurate, I even got a couple flashbacks of my own. Those of you that said that there was no plot either got your heads in your pants or are just trying to knock a good movie. Because the story is very well written and acted. Its well written because its obviously about the quinceanera of Martha who does a great job acting by the way, and how she must prove that she is now a woman, as said by the priest in one of the earlier scenes. Its not really obvious from the beginning but way she does that is by helping her dad out behind his own back and although this is predictable it is still done very well. Over all, its a great family movie, definitely better than any recent stupid cartoon kid/family movies that are all about violence and subtle and not so subtle sexual references(wallace and grommit, chicken little,etc),compared to them this movie looks like an Oscar contender. I cant say this enough, Great Movie, any one than says otherwise didn't really get the movie and just didn't really understand the depthness and genuineness of the movie. on a side note most of this cast had already made or went on to make other great Mexican/American movies, like stand and deliver, blood in blood out, and American me.

alright

[rar21 · 7/10 · 17 November 2005]

I just got done watching this movie in my Spanish class. So, it is a Spanish movie, but if u don't know Spanish it's not that big of a deal. It's about a Quinceanera which is a girl's 15th birthday. If you're rich, you get a big party. If not, you get nothing special. Martagoes to her cousins and sees how awesome it is. She meets a boy named Ramon who looks way too old for her. They like each other. Now, Marta has to have a quince party. Her dad claims to be American, but in fact is an illegal living in America. He has lived in America a while though and had many jobs, just still no amnesty. There are tons of other Mexicans and they are getting thrown back to Mexico. So her dad, wanting to keep his pride, tells his daughter and sons they are moving back to Mexico. To make a long story short, Marta finds out her dad is illegal. She then gets the signature from all the employers with the help of Ramon. Her parents hate Ramon. So, she saves the day and her dad can stay. She ends up getting a surprise quinceanera party, and gets to hang out with Ramon, since she is considered a woman. Good ending. Not a bad movie. Wouldn't want to see it again, but still not bad. kept me entertained in a usually boring school.